Lincoln · Town Car · 2005
3
Recalls
119
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 Lincoln Town Car has 3 recalls and 119 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: vehicle speed control (21 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13V-385. The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.
Remedy Status
Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if necessary free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S25.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BATTERY CABLE INCLUDES A FUSIBLE LINK THAT MAY CONTACT AND SUBSEQUENTLY CHAFE ON A #2 CROSS MEMBER ATTACHING BOLT.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUSIBLE LINK AND POSITION IT AWAY FROM THE CROSS MEMBER BOLT. IF THE FUSIBLE LINK HAS ALREADY CHAFED AND COPPER WIRES HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, THE FUSIBLE LINK WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673, OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.
Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft which may cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse and the steering column lower bearing to separate.
Remedy Status
Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on October 23, 2013. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S08.
Unknown
The contact owns a 2005 Lincoln Town Car. The contact stated that the windshield wipers became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000. The consumer stated wipers are only turned on when raining, back warning only works when backing up, and unsure when the air bag light came on.
While accelerating approximate @ 30 mph, vehicle speed increased without assistance nearly plummeting into a body of water at a curve... exit 77 on I-95S MD. The car could not handled the curve at that rate of speed. Town Car had to be thrown into neutral and hard press brake pedal in order to stop. Safety issue could have been major accident or my death. I do not desire to reproduce a dangerous scenario with an accelerating vehicle. Dealership and private mechanic refused to reproduce incident. Zero warning lamps and nothing in computer to determine a problem/fix.
2005 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY ACCELERATOR WHICH RESULTED IN A AUTO ACCIDENT. *LD *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT CALLED IN REGARDS TO HAVING A BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TRUCK AND THE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURY WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY DAMAGE ESTIMATE AND REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, CASE WAS FILED, AND REFERRED TO CONTACT NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.
AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON FOR A YEAR BUT NOW ITS OFF BUT HAVE 25 BEEPS EVERYTIME I START CAR AND EVERY 20 MINUTES AFTER. FOUND IT WAS AB N AIRBAG ISSUE
BECAME HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. LIKE LOSS OF POWER STEERING TO IT INTO BE CHECKED IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING. ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS RECALLED FOR SAME REASON. I CHECKED IT WAS RECALLED BUT SAYS 0 UNREPAIRED . BUT SAYS SOME WAS NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY I HAVE LESS THAN 95,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WITH OUT NOTICED
"TAKATA RECALL." I NOTICED A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I HAVE 28000 ACTUAL MILES ON THE 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. I HAVE NOT HAD A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CHECK IT OUT AND LET ME KNOW OF ANY RECALLS ON THE AIRBAGS.
AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES 3 TIMES 5 TIMES AND THEN STAYS ON. NO ACCIDENTS 28000 ACTUAL MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED STEERING IS VERY HARD AND STIFF. *JB
TIGHT STEERING/REPAIRED BY DEALER 7/31/2017( RECALL # 13S08)...TIGHT STEERING AGAIN 8/1/2018 WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC( NON-DEALER) WAS STEERING PUMP, TURNED OUT TO BE UPPER INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT, I BELIEVE WHEN THE LOWER WAS REPLACED IT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE TO REPLACE THE UPPER AS WELL, LOOKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR AT LEAST PART $310.10 TO BE PAID TO MECHANIC @ JOES AUTO MALL /NEW BEDFORD MA
THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN A PARKING LOT AT 5-10 MILES/HOUR. IT RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND WAS STOPPED ONLY AFTER BOTH FEET ON BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE USED. THE SKID MARKS ARE 32' LONG. THERE WERE MANY WITNESSES BECAUSE IT WAS IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT AT THE END OF SUNDAY SERVICE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY MANUFACTURER RECALLS OR TSBS FOR THE AIR BAGS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT HAD NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
AIR BAG LIGHT ON. DEALER COMPUTER INDICATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT NEEDS REPLACING. PLEASE ADVISE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 05/10/17*LJ *AS
I WAS PARKING AT APPLEBEES WHEN THE CAR BOLTED AND SLAMMED IN THE WALL. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK BUT WENT IN REVERSE ALSO AT HGH SPEED. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND GO TO PARK. I'M CONCERNED. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELEATOR. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO CHECK MY CAR OUT.
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON.
AIR BAG LIGHT ON, GIVING CODE 34 THEN REMAINS ILLUMINATED. DEALER SAID SEAT BELT TENSIONERS ON BOTH SIDE NEED TO BE CHANGED @ A COST OF $1,500 . THEY ALSO ADVISE SERIOUS INJURY CAN OCCUR IN AN EVENT OF AN IMPACT .
WHILE IN MOTION VEHICLE ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. NOT A DRIVER ERROR PROBLEM. THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ENGINE REVVING HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN DRIVING IN THE CITY AND SLOWING DOWN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. CAN CONTROL THE ENGINE REVVING UP BY PLACING TRANSMISSION ON NEUTRAL, STOPPING CAR TURN IGNITION TO OFF. RESTART ENGINE AND ENGINE BEHAVES PROPERLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER 0N 9/22/16. DEALER KEPT CAR TO ATTEMPT DUPLICATING PROBLEM. CAR RETURNED CAR TO ME ON 10/20/16. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEM DETECTED. THIS ACCELERATION PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES GOING BACK TO SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE NEW CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN GOOD FAITH. I NOW BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER AND LINCOLN SOLD ME A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH PASSENGERS AND SAFETY FOR OTHER PERSONS. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED PROBABLY ABOUT 20 TIMES AND REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC VALVE IN THE FUEL INJECTOR SEIZED IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2005 Lincoln Town Car has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 119 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Lincoln Town Car.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 Lincoln Town Car.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 Lincoln Town Car are vehicle speed control (21 reports), air bags (13 reports), service brakes, hydraulic (8 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2005 Lincoln Town Car. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.